Vancouver Island - Part 1

WARNING......lots of pictures!

Chris, Seth and I just returned from a great trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Our main purpose was to visit Sean but as an added bonus we also visited my good friend Jo-Ann in Nanaimo. Our visit to Nanaimo will be Part 2 of our vacation.....coming soon.

We decided to drive a different route so we could see country that we hadn't seen before. So we drove down thru the states and took the Ferry at Anacortes, Washington over to Victoria. Our first day of driving was a long 14 hour day (no open campgrounds so we just kept on driving...and driving...and driving until we were all too tired and stopped at the Dutch Cup Motel) so the next day was quite nice and MUCH shorter.

First tourist stop. There are lots of trees in Washington!

We got to the Ferry early and much to our surprise there was a really great festival going on so we walked around there for a couple of hours looking at all the great arts and crafts, entertainment and food. Although my salmon burger did not match at all the salmon burger I had in Tofino B.C. with Sean and Kelly over 2 1/2 years ago.

We also walked around the Pier as Chris dreamed and dreamed about one day owning a sail boat.

Here we are on the Ferry. Seth never wanted to look at the camera but the man in the orange shirt was sure looking at something! (click to enlarge the picture because it's funny)

Chris on the Ferry and Seth still not looking at the camera!

"I spy with my little eye"......Seth. Can you see him in that crowd below? He hung out there as the Ferry docked in Victoria.

The night we arrived in Victoria Sean called us not more than 5 minutes after we arrived at our hotel room and asked, "have you eaten yet"? We said, "nope". And he said, "good. Come on over because I am making stir fry for all of us"! So off we went and enjoyed a home cooked meal that was most excellent! After dinner we gave Sean his birthday gifts and so here he is opening the card and gifts that Kelly gave him.

The next morning Sean and Andrea (Sean's girlfriend) took us to Floyds for breakfast. How can you beat french toast with saute'd banana's, sugared pecan clusters and toffee sauce? You cant!

Sean and Andrea both had to work so we went sightseeing and walked around Beacon Hill Park for a couple of hours but we didn't see the Peacocks walking around like we had heard about.

Another shot of what Beacon Hill Park has to offer.

It seems I took a lot of "together" pictures becuase well........we arent together very often. Here is Sean and Seth trying out the drums at Long and McQuade.

Sean with his DJ equipment. He has found a new interest that he really enjoys and even makes money at. Can't beat a hobby like that!

Seth was enjoying Sean's equipment too!

Another "together" picture. I love it. But I loved having Sean sit next to me even more!

We all went to the Shaw Aquarium in Sidney one morning. It was a nice time to be together. Oh, there is that word again! Together.

Just looking at all the interesting creatures.......

.....like the Jelly Fish and......

....the Octopus which was our favorite creature of all.

Chris and Sean. A really great father/son picture if I do say so myself.

Outside the Aquarium.

We went back to Victoria and ate at a place called Red Fish Blue Fish. You wait in line for at least 45 minutes on any given day and it's worth it.

We ordered a side dish of deep fried pickles to share and boy were they good.

Now this lovely dessert was alomost to die for! Sean and Andrea found this Gellato place downtown and once I saw this frozen cheesecake on a stick that was it. I had to have it! And wow was it good!!

Andrea suggested we take a drive up Mt. Doug. (Douglas Park) for a little hike. Once at the top you can see all of Victoria.

A shot of our partial family. It sure would have been perfect to have Kelly and Caleb with us.

Last picture. I promise. On our last night in Victoria we went to a Japanese Restaurant and sat inside one of the private rooms where you sit on the floor. It was so fun and yummy.
We had so much fun food while we were in Victoria that it became a highlight for us...especially me I think.


This trip was one of the greatest trips. We saw and did things we had never done before but the very best part was seeing Sean after 2 years. Sean is doing well and we enjoyed meeting Andrea. We hope that it won't be another 2 years before we see him again!